Wednesday 4 November 2020

The History of Wales

 

Today is the feast of Saint Winifred or Saint Winefride (Welsh: Gwenffrewi)
Saint Winifred was a 7th-century Welsh Christian who is the focus of many tales and legends. The spring called St Winefride's Well in Holywell, Fflint, is claimed to have healing powers, and the shrine is now a pilgrimage site known as the Lourdes of Wales.
Winifred’s parents, legend claims, were Tyfid ap Eiludd, a noble chieftain of Tegeingl, and Wenlo, who was St. Beuno's sister. When Winifred decided to take holy orders, her enraged suitor Caradog decapitated her. A healing spring miraculously appeared where her severed head came to rest, and she was restored to life. Her suitor fell dead on the spot and was swallowed by the earth. Her maternal uncle, St. Beuno, decreed "that whosoever on that spot should thrice ask for a benefit from God in the name of St. Winefride would obtain the grace he asked if it was for the good of his soul."


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